Multifunctional case

ABSTRACT

A case ( 1 ) includes a lower shell ( 2 ) and an upper shell ( 3 ) which are equipped with elements ( 4, 4′ ) for joining them together. The lower shell ( 2 ) and the upper shell ( 3 ) are provided with respective members ( 6, 6′ ) for attaching telescopic legs ( 7 ). The lower shell ( 2 ) forms a bed, a bathtub or a raised bed. The upper shell ( 3 ) forms a deckchair or a high chair. The suitcase ( 1 ) includes a bed bumper and a removable seat.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of travel goods which can be converted into objects intended for another use. The subject of the invention is a multifunctional case.

STATE OF THE ART

Document WO 2005/055789 (METAXAS) describes a portable bath comprising a lower shell and an upper shell which can be fixed onto the lower shell. The lower shell is intended to constitute a bath for a baby or young child. The lower shell is provided with a hole allowing the bath water to be emptied. The lower shell is equipped with a telescopic handle and a pair of casters in order to facilitate transport by rolling the portable bath. The upper shell is equipped with a an intermediate shell comprising cells which form storage compartments. A mattress is interposed between the intermediate shell and the upper shell. Such a portable bath is worth improving so as to offer other uses.

SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to propose a multifunctional case which is easily convertible into a plurality of objects offering various functions, such a case being simple, light and strong.

A case of the present invention is a case comprising a lower shell and an upper shell which are equipped with means for assembling one to the other.

According to the present invention, the lower shell and the upper shell are provided with respective means for attaching telescopic legs.

Preferably, the lower shell equally well forms a cot, a bath and a raised cot.

Preferably also, the upper shell equally well forms a rocking chair and a high chair.

The case advantageously comprises an arch which equally well equips a lower rim of the lower shell and an upper rim of the upper shell.

The telescopic legs are preferentially provided with a handle and casters.

The telescopic legs advantageously comprise two pairs of parallel feet including a first pair and a second pair which are connected to each other by a securing rod.

The lower shell is for example provided with a hole equipped with a removable plug.

The lower shell is for example provided with a cot bumper attached to the lower rim.

The cot bumper is in particular equipped with a night light.

The cot bumper is in particular equipped with remote means of communication and/or monitoring.

The lower shell is preferentially provided with a removable seat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent on reading the description which will include embodiments, with reference to the figures on the attached sheets, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a case of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lower shell constituting the case shown in the preceding figure, the lower shell being arranged as a cot.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 3 a are perspective views of the lower shell shown in the preceding figure, the lower shell being arranged as a bath.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an upper shell constituting the case shown in FIG. 1, the upper shell being arranged as a rocking chair.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the constituent telescopic legs of the case shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lower shell shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower shell being arranged as a raised cot.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the upper shell shown in FIG. 4, the upper shell being arranged as a high chair.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are respective views of a connecting bar equipping the case represented in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, a case 1 comprises a lower shell 2 and an upper shell 3. The lower shell 2 and the upper shell 3 are preferentially produced by moulding a recyclable plastic material, such as polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, high density polyethylene, polycarbonate or similar. The lower shell 2 and the upper shell 3 can be assembled one to the other using assembling means 4,4′ which are divided between a respective rim 5,5′ of the lower shell 2 and of the upper shell 3. Thus, the lower shell 2 comprises a lower rim 5 which is equipped with lower assembling means 4 while that the upper shell 3 comprises an upper rim 5′ which is equipped with upper assembling means 4′. The lower assembling means 4 and the upper assembling means 4′ are arranged opposite each other in the assembled position of the case 1. The lower assembling means 4 and the upper assembling means 4′ cooperate with each other by interlocking, clipping or similar.

The lower shell 2 and the upper shell 3 are provided with means 6,6′ for attaching telescopic legs 7. The telescopic legs 7 make it possible to adjust the height of the lower shell 2 or the upper shell 3. For this purpose, the telescopic legs 7 are for example constituted by sliding and/or foldable strips. First attachment means 6 equipping the lower shell 2 are for example channels into which the telescopic legs 7 fit. The first attachment means 6 are preferentially arranged inside the bottom 17 of the lower shell 2. The bottom 17 is preferably arranged inside a bottom plane P1 which forms a non-zero angle with a joint surface P2 according to which the lower rim 5 and the upper rim 5′ are arranged, in the assembly position of the case 1. Second attachment means 6′ equipping the upper shell 3 are for example recesses into which the telescopic legs 7, i.e. the ends 8 of the telescopic legs 7 fit. The latter are equipped with casters 9 and a handle 10 in order to allow transport by rolling the case 1. The first attachment means 6 and the second attachment means 6′ are for example means that are secured using a key or similar.

By way of non-limitative example, the case 1 has for example a height H comprised between 35 cm and 40 cm, a length L1 comprised between 95 cm and 100 cm, and a width L2 comprised between 50 cm and 60 cm.

In FIG. 2, the lower shell 2 advantageously constitutes a cot in which a baby or a young child can sleep. For this purpose, the case 1 houses a mattress 11, arranged on the bottom 17, on which the baby rests in order to sleep. The mattress 11 is for example made of polyurethane or similar. The mattress 11 can be reversibly attached to the bottom 17, so as to be used as a changing table outside the lower shell 2. The lower rim 5 of the inner shell 2 is in this configuration equipped with a cot bumper 12 which is intended to protect the baby. The cot bumper 12 is for example in the form of a flexible roll and can be removably fitted onto the lower rim 5. The cot bumper 12 is for example equipped with a night light 13 which is constituted by a low power lamp. The night light 13 is preferably adjustable as regards brightness and colour. The cot bumper 12 is for example also equipped with remote means 14 for communicating with and/or monitoring the baby. Such remote communication and/or monitoring means 14 are for example constituted by a microphone, camera or similar. The remote communication and/or monitoring means 14 are preferentially capable of broadcasting music, such as songs, music, lullabies for children. The remote communication and/or monitoring means 14 can if necessary be remotely controlled from a mobile phone and/or a computer. The cot bumper 12 can be installed on any cot such as a larger cot so that the cot bumper 12 can be used for several years.

In FIG. 3, the lower shell 2 advantageously constitutes a bath for bathing the baby. For this purpose, the lower shell 2 is provided with a hole 15 which can be reversibly plugged by a plug 16 so as to be able to empty the bath. The hole 15 is preferentially made through the bottom 17 of the lower shell 2. The case 1 houses a cloth 18 or similar for cleaning the bath after use. The bottom 17 is inclined towards the hole 15 so as to facilitate a flow of bath water during emptying of the bath. The hole 15 can be equipped with tubing in order to facilitate emptying the bath water towards a point distant from the bath. The tubing is preferentially adjustable in length. The tubing is for example able to be compressed to a reduced size so as to be stored inside the case 1. With reference more particularly to FIG. 3 a, the lower shell 2 is equipped with a removable seat 100 which is obtained from a fold of a panel 101 which fits into recesses 102 arranged on the bottom 17 of the lower shell 2. The panel 101 preferentially comprises for this purpose folding lines 104. These arrangements are such that the panel 101 forms a removable seat 100 making it possible not to have to hold the baby during bathing.

In FIG. 4, the upper shell 3 advantageously constitutes a rocking chair. For this purpose, the upper shell 3 comprises a convex external face 19 which constitutes a resting face of the upper shell 3 on which the upper shell 3 is capable of carrying out an alternating rocking movement. The upper rim 5′ can be equipped with an arch 20 bearing hanging objects 21 for amusing a baby lying in the rocking chair. The hanging objects 21 are preferably detachable from the arch 20 and water-resistant enabling them to be used for the bath. The upper rim 5′ can also be provided with at least one strap 22 for restraining a baby sitting in the rocking chair. The convex external face 19 is equipped with a flap 23 which is mobile between a deployed position in which the flap 23 constitutes a stop against the rocking of the upper shell 3 and a retracted position in which the flap 23 is folded inside a housing so as not to protrude.

In FIG. 5, the telescopic legs 7 are constituted by two pairs 24,24′ of two parallel legs 25. Each pair 24,24′ is mobile about a common axis of rotation Al along which a securing rod 26 is arranged from a first pair 24 to a second pair 24′. The first pair 24 of parallel legs 25 is equipped the casters 9 and a handle 10. The handle 10 constitutes an element connecting the parallel legs 25 of the first pair 24 to one another. The second pair 24′ of parallel legs 25 is equipped with a bar 27 connecting the parallel legs 25 of the second pair 24′ to one another. The connecting bar 27, the handle 10 and the securing rod 26 are arranged along respective directions which are parallel to one another. The first pair 24 and the second pair 24′ are arranged in respective planes substantially orthogonal in the position of use, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, while the first pair 24 and the second pair 24′ are arranged in the same plan in the storage position, as shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the telescopic legs 7 are able to support the lower shell 2 and the upper shell 3 respectively, in order to constitute a raised cot and a high chair respectively. In order to do this, the lower shell 2 and the upper shell 3 are provided with means 28 for attaching the handle 10 and the connecting bar 27. In FIG. 6 more particularly, the lower shell 2 is provided with the arch 20 which can also be fixed onto the lower rim 5.

In FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the connecting bar 27 is equipped with a system 105 for locking/unlocking the telescopic legs 7 in position on the lower shell 2 and/or on the upper shell 3. The locking/unlocking system 105 comprises at least one lever 106, or even and preferentially two levers 106, for actuating two pins 107 capable of engaging and/or disengaging inside the corresponding holes arranged through the lower shell 2 and the upper shell 3. For this purpose, the locking/unlocking system 105 comprises a spring 108 to reposition pins 107 in the locked position. The spring 108 allows the locking of the telescopic legs 7 onto the lower shell 2 in order to prevent falling should the child become agitated during the bath.

These arrangements are such that the case 1 constitutes an item of modular travelling equipment providing multiple functions:

-   -   a container for transporting accessories for a baby easily and         effortlessly,     -   a bath for bathing the baby,     -   a cot in which the baby can sleep,     -   a rocking chair inside which the baby is placed to play,     -   a high chair for feeding the baby,     -   a changing table,         such a case 1 being light and strong. 

1. Case (1) comprising a lower shell (2) and an upper shell (3) which are equipped with means (4,4′) for assembling one to the other, the lower shell (2) and the upper shell (3) being provided with respective means (6,6′) for attaching telescopic legs (7), characterized in that the telescopic legs (7) are provided with a handle (10) and casters (9).
 2. Case (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower shell (2) equally well constitutes a cot, a bath, a raised cot and a changing table.
 3. Case (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper shell (3) equally well constitutes a rocking chair and a high chair.
 4. Case (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the case (1) comprises an arch (20) which equally well equips a lower rim (5) of the lower shell (2) and an upper rim (5′) of the upper shell (3).
 5. Case (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the telescopic legs (7) comprise two pairs (24,24′) of parallel legs (25) including a first pair (24) and a second pair (24′) which are connected to one another by a securing rod (26).
 6. Case (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower shell (2) is provided with a hole (15) equipped with a removable plug (16).
 7. Case (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower shell (2) is provided with a cot bumper (12) fixed onto the lower rim (5).
 8. Case (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the cot bumper (12) is equipped with a night light (13).
 9. Case (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the cot bumper (12) is equipped with remote means of communication and/or monitoring (14).
 10. Case (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower shell (2) is provided with a removable seat (100) and/or a removable shelf (200).
 11. Case (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the lower shell (2) is provided with a cot bumper (12) fixed onto the lower rim (5).
 12. Case (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower shell (2) is provided with a cot bumper (12) fixed onto the lower rim (5). 